By Policy Center’s Legislative and Regulatory Policy Team

Our work shaping and reporting on national mental health policy is made possible through a 2023-2024 capacity grant from the Perigee Fund.

On March 18, the Biden Administration signed a new Executive Order outlining directives to ensure women’s health is integrated into the federal research portfolio and budget. More than 20 new actions and commitments by federal agencies to advance women's health research were included in this announcement. This follows the First Lady Dr. Jill Biden’s recent announcement of $100 million in women’s health funding through Sprint for Women’s Health, which “intends to fundamentally change the trajectory of women’s health care research and radically accelerate the next generation of discoveries”.

Key investments in maternal mental health are outlined in many of the initiatives outlined below:

Connect Research to Real-World Outcomes to Improve Women’s Mental and Behavioral Health. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is supporting a range of healthcare providers to address the unique needs of women with or at risk for mental health and substance use disorders. SAMHSA intends, contingent on available funds, to launch a new comprehensive Women’s Behavioral Health Technical Assistance Center. This center will identify and improve the implementation of best practices in women’s behavioral health across the life span; identify and fill critical gaps in knowledge of and resources for women’s behavioral health; and provide learning opportunities, training, and technical assistance for healthcare providers.
Coordinate Research to Advance the Health of Women in the Military. DoD will invest $10 million, contingent on available funds, in the Military Women’s Health Research Partnership. The Partnership is supporting research in a wide range of health issues affecting women in the military, including cancers, mental and behavioral health, and the unique healthcare needs of active duty service women.
Expand Fellowship Training in Women’s Health Research. CDC, in collaboration with the CDC Foundation and American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, is expanding training in women’s health research and public health surveillance to OBGYNs, nurses, and advanced practice nurses. Through fellowships and public health experiences with CDC, these clinicians will gain public health research skills to improve the health of women and children exposed to or affected by infectious diseases, mental health, and substance use disorders.
Support EPA-Wide Research and Dissemination of Data on Women’s Health. EPA is establishing a Women’s Health Community of Practice to coordinate research and data dissemination. EPA also plans to direct the Board of Scientific Counselors to identify ways to advance EPA’s research with specific consideration of the intersection of environmental factors and women’s health, including maternal health.
Support Research on Maternal Health Outcomes. USDA will fund research to help recognize early warning signs of maternal morbidity and mortality in recipients of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and anticipates awarding up to $5 million in Fiscal Year 2023 to support maternal health research through WIC.

See the video of President Biden’s announcement here.

The Policy Center is collecting ideas to propel maternal mental research and sharing them with the White House Domestic Policy Council. If you have research ideas, please email them to Info@policycentermmh.org by May 1, 2024.